Competency
Formulate, express, and support individual perspectives on diverse works and issues. Humanities Essay Discussion Paper
Instructions
You will act as a critic for some of the main subjects covered in the humanities. You will conduct a series of short, evaluative critiques of film, philosophy, literature, music, and myth. You will respond to five different prompts, and each response should include an analysis of the topics using terminology unique to that subject area and should include an evaluation as to why the topic stands the test of time. The five prompts are as follows:
Humanities
Film analysis – Titanic
One of the most memorable films is the Titanic. Based on historical events that had the Titanic ship capsize as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the movie focuses on the doomed love story between Rose and Jack, star-crossed lovers from different social backgrounds. Narrated by an aged Rose who survived the ill fatted ship. In the first scene, viewers are presented with a ship under the see being excavated. This scene shows the excavation crew salvaging a drawing from the ships wreckage. It is this drawing that introduces a young Rose, who is the subject of the drawing by Jack. Rose is wearing a valuable piece of jewelry in the drawing, an indication of her social background as being from a wealthy family. Throughout the narration, the film makes use of coincidence as an artistic approach to contrast the present and past events. In addition, flashback is used to explore demarcations in social classes during the colonial era and how those social classes have been blurred in the present times (Cameron, 1997). Overall, the film takes viewers through a tragic story of ill-fated live that sought to transcend social class demarcations during the colonial era.
How to fall in love – Plato and Aristotle
Plato and Aristotle offer different perspectives on how to fall in love. Plato perceives falling in love as a mental ailment, describing the emotion and actions of love as irrational. The irrationality of love is what makes it a mental illness. However, he argues that although love is irrational, it is necessary to make humans whole. Every person is born as a half nature and it is through love that an individual acquired the other half of his/her nature. Without love, an individual is unable to acquire the other half of human nature resulting in an incomplete human nature. In contrast, Aristotle perceives love as the discovery of a matching soul. Each individual has a soul and it is through love that the individual finds a matching soul for companionship. This implies that falling in love is akin to finding a matching soul (Corrigan, 2018). In this respect, Plato perceives falling in love as an irrational action and mental illness, while Aristotle perceives falling in love as finding a matching soul in another body.
Compare and contrast two poems
The two poems have three similarities. The first similarity is the focus on the themes of loss and love. They explore great loves and the pain that ensures when the love is lost. The second similarity is the use of similar tones and moods. In talking readers through the journey of love and loss, the two poems begin with a joyful mood that matches the love theme before taking on somber tone that matches the depressing, pessimistic mood of loss. The third similarity is the use of imagery. Although the two poems have three similarities, they also have differences in the language, style and format. Petrarch’s poem is presented as a single stanza with long lines while Dickinson’s poem is presented as three stanzas with short lines (Lockward, 2018).
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Compare and contrast two pieces of music
The two pieces of music are instrumental compositions focused on love as a theme. However, that is as far as their similarities. They have significant differences. On one hand, Beethoven’s Violin Romance No. 2 uses poetic, contemplative and philosophical musing to explore love as a theme. Also, romance is evident through the smooth, flowing line. Additionally, it combines stateliness and sentiment, thus making it suitable for violin and orchestra presentation (Hepokoski, 2020). On the other hand, Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag is composed for piano play. It has an athletic, upbeat tone interspersed with offbeat melodies. There is a clear shift between the melodies. In addition, it explores love from a pretend perspective as societal hindrances prevent that love from being realized. Furthermore, it makes use of repetition in the phrases with the different melodies being accompanied by a stead bass (Campbell, 2019). Humanities Essay Discussion Paper
Modern character as a hero – Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a modern hero character. There are seven traits that identify him as such. The first trait is superhuman abilities that enable him to do what common me cannot do. He can jump higher than other men, can control minds, and can use force (telekinesis) to move objects. The second trait is that he pursues a hero quest to right wrongs. He is on a quest to bring down an empire that is bad for the people. The third trait is the presence of a master who guides him. Skywalker took Yoda as his master. The fourth trait is being innately good. Yoda put Skywalker through tests even as he became a Jedi and went on to destroy the empire and Darth Vader. The fifth trait is working with others on a hero quest. Skywalker works with Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Han Solo, and Princess Leia to bring down the empire. Finally, he experiences a low point that would cause other men to give up and yet he does not give up. He fought against Darth Vader on Death Star and lost, a loss that almost made him give up on the hero quest. He overcome the loss and eventually completed the hero quest (Lucas, 1977).
References
Cameron, J. (Director). 1997. Titanic [Film]. Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment.
Campbell, M. (2019). Popular Music in America: The Beat Goes On (5th ed.). Cengage.
Corrigan, K. (2018). Love, friendship, beauty, and the good: Plato, Aristotle, and the later tradition. Cascade Books.
Hepokoski, J. (2020). A sonata theory handbook. Oxford University Press.
Lockward, D. (2018). The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics. Terrapin Books.
Lucas, G. (Creator). 1977. Star Wars [Film franchise]. Lucasfim Ltd.
Competency
Formulate, express, and support individual perspectives on diverse works and issues.
Instructions
You will act as a critic for some of the main subjects covered in the humanities. You will conduct a series of short, evaluative critiques of film, philosophy, literature, music, and myth. You will respond to five different prompts, and each response should include an analysis of the topics using terminology unique to that subject area and should include an evaluation as to why the topic stands the test of time. The five prompts are as follows:
Choose a film and offer an analysis of why it is an important film, and discuss it in terms of film as art. Your response should be more than a summary of the film.
Imagine you had known Plato and Aristotle and you had a conversation about how we fall in love. Provide an overview of how Plato would explain falling in love, and then provide an overview of how Aristotle might explain falling in love.
Compare and contrast the two poems below:
LOVE’S INCONSISTENCY
I find no peace, and all my war is done;
I fear and hope, I burn and freeze likewise
I fly above the wind, yet cannot rise;
And nought I have, yet all the world I seize on;
That looseth, nor locketh, holdeth me in prison, And holds me not, yet can I ’scape no wise;
Nor lets me live, nor die, at my devise,
And yet of death it giveth none occasion.
Without eyes I see, and without tongue I plain;
I wish to perish, yet I ask for health;
I love another, and yet I hate myself;
I feed in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain;
Lo, thus displeaseth me both death and life,
And my delight is causer of my grief.
Petrarch
After great pain a formal feeling comes—
The nerves sit ceremonious like tombs;
The stiff Heart questions—was it He that bore?
And yesterday—or centuries before?
The feet mechanical go round
A wooden way
Of ground or air or ought
Regardless grown,
A quartz contentment like a stone.
This is the hour of lead
Remembered if outlived
As freezing persons recollect
The snow—
First chill, then stupor, then
The letting go
Emily Dickinson
Compare and contrast these two pieces of music:
Beethoven’s Violin Romance No. 2
Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag
Explain in classical terms why a modern character is a hero. Choose from either Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones, Bilbo Baggins, Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, or Ender Wiggins. Humanities Essay Discussion Paper